Below are Philip Royster's written answers to questions asked by the Kalamazoo Gazette:

Why should voters elect you to the Kalamazoo City Commission?

It is time for change and creating a vision to meet the challenges of the current State Budget Cuts that have affected our city. We have known since before Memorial Day when the State Budget for this fiscal year was passed and signed by the Governor what areas would receive cuts. In spite of this knowledge no city commissioner was proactive in making plans to minimize the impact of the cuts. I don’t want to see any cuts. I have proposed a city income tax that would first retain and hire more Public Safety personnel and purchased the best technical equipment possible to stave off the crime wave that is coming due to the cut of State cash assistance. Having the income tax in place will allow the city government to be more flexible to borrow when crisis arise and to meet the present and future need of the city.

What are your top three priorities for the city of Kalamazoo?

Retain and hire more Kalamazoo Public Safety Police with
the best technical equipment available by passing a City Income Tax.

Replace the lost revenue from the
State from revenue generate by a City Income Tax.

Getting the Churches involved where
they are centers of hope and support to both mentor and provide computer
training and make sure homework is done and turn in with our children.

The city faces a $6 million budget shortfall over the next two
fiscal years. What areas of the budget represent the best potential for
cost savings? How can this be accomplished?

The question is not relevant if the City Income Tax is pasted. I would like to dovetail the legislation that currently being pasted in the State to eliminate health care benefits to homosexuals/lesbians partners and the partners of unmarried partners working for the city. After the State has passed the truth in marriage act i.e. the supplements that are being added, I would like to have the same legislature past her in Kalamazoo. This may takes some time because legal challenges will be made. Once all litigation is finished I would like to start the passage of this legislation for the City of Kalamazoo. This will make perfectly clear marriage is the only institution that will be recognized for health care benefit in the city.

Are there any city services that should not be subject to cost
cutting? If so, what are those areas and why should they be protected?

If the City Income Tax passes, there
will be no need to cut any services. We
should be able to establish a rainy day fund to meet unintended crises.

On this year’s ballot, voters will be asked if the city’s charter
should be amended to make the use of an ounce or less of marijuana by
anyone at least 21 years old the least law enforcement priority in
Kalamazoo. Do you support or oppose this charter amendment? Please
explain your position.

I support passage of this
legislation. Police have too many other
things to do then be chasing down citizens that use marijuana for their
personnel use. There has been a lot of
controversy with the passage of the Medical Marijuana Bill. If citizen are in their homes, then they do
deserve privacy that this law will provide.

A long-discussed tax measure to fund an arena in downtown
Kalamazoo will not be on the ballot this November. But the issue could
resurface. Would you support the use of city money — either through
direct investment or tax breaks — to fund the arena project?

No I don't want an arena in downtown
Kalamazoo. The nightmare of security of
cars and people who get lost because it is not off the highway is unacceptable
to me. If we vote to build one it should
be off the highway. I would support the
use of city money, direct investment and tax breaks to build the arena.